Spilocuscus nudicaudatus

• Main Authors: Russell A. Mittermeier, Don E. Wilson
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Lynx Edicions 2015
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Diprotodontia; Phalangeridae; Spilocuscus; Spilocuscus nudicaudatus; Queensland; Kap; Cape York; Archer; Kap York; Archer River
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/6620433; https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6620433

29. Australian Spotted Cuscus Spilocuscus nudicaudatus French: Phalanger de Cape York / German: Kap-York-Tupfelkuskus / Spanish: Cuscus moteado de Australia Taxonomy. Phalangista (Pseudocheirus) nudicaudata Gould, 1850, “ Cape York, the most northern point of Australia,” Queensland. Commonly considered a subspecies of S. maculatus, but it is best recognized as a distinct species. Monotypic. Distribution. Cape York Peninsula of NE Queensland, N of the Stewart River and the Coen-Archer River system, including Mcllwraith and Iron ranges. Descriptive notes. Head—body 41-58 cm (mean 48:6 cm), tail 37.5-48.5 cm (mean 42.7 cm); weight 2:7.4-9 kg (mean 3-6 kg). The Australian Spotted Cuscus is one of the smallest species of spotted cuscus; only the Admiralty Spotted Cuscus (S. kraemert) is smaller. Pelage patterning of the Australian Spotted Cuscus is diagnostic. Overall color of dorsum is steely gray from face to tail and on dorsal surfaces of limbs in both sexes, characterized by gray-brown underfur marked with silvery-golden tipping, a color similar to the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Underside of the Australian Spotted Cuscus is cream from chin and cheeks to tail, sometimes extending to dorsal surface of tail. Gray dorsum is darker on head and forequarters than on hindquarters, and distal tail, ears, hands, and feet (sometimes rump) are typically yellowish-cream. Males have cream-colored spots and blotches on dorsum, mostly on midand lower back; females generally lack cream markings on dorsum and generally do not have darkened “saddle” markings on mid-back. Pelage is dense and rather woolly in appearance. Occasional individuals have an orange wash evident in fur, but predominate coloris dull gray. A similar (but not identical) gray pattern is seen only in some color variants of the Common Spotted Cuscus (S. maculatus) from the Moluccas. As with other spotted cuscuses, ears of the Australian Spotted Cuscus are relatively short and largely hidden in fur. Natal coat is similar in color to that of adults but lacks ...